Some pics from Ireland!

Children of Lir (detail) by Oisín Kelly, 1966. Taken from a pagan legend, the story of children who were turned into swans symbolizes the rebirth and resurrection of Ireland (you can't see the pre-swan children in this detail.)

Giant red squirrel made from waste by Portuguese artist Bordalo II highlights the plight of the red squirrel in Ireland. It is part of the artist's Trash Animal series. Brilliant!

Most of the Dublin Castle is 18th century, when Rococo stuccowork was in vogue. This is part of a lovely ceiling in one of the state apartments.

Replica of the 10th century Cross of the Scriptures at Clonmacnoise, in its original location, and actual cross, housed for safekeeping in the excellent interpretive centre. At right is a proposed colour scheme. Hard to imagine that these weathered surfaces were once brightly coloured!

Galway.

Lockes Distillery.

Castle Dunguaire, 16th century.

Lahinch Beach, County Clare. So beautiful!

I was very excited to see Poulnabrone Dolmen, the portal tomb dated from 4200 to 2900 BCE.

Beehive hut on the Dingle Peninsula, ca. 2000 BCE.

Inside the Beehive hut, which apparently never leaks. It is made with the dry stone technique - no mortar!

Gallarus Oratory, an early Irish stone church dating to the 12th century.

Inside the Oratory.

Slea Head, Dingle Peninsula.

Killarney, 11pm.

Lady's View, Ring of Kerry.

King of Kerry

St Canice's Cathedral, 13th century, Kilkenny.

The residents of Kilkenny are called Kytelers!

At the Rock of Cashal.

Muiredach's Cross at Monasterboice, ca. 900-920. It was bigger than I expected.

Another view of Muiredach's Cross.

Newgrange Passage Tomb, ca. 3200 BCE. Older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids! The exterior was restored using the original building stones found on site.

Entrance stone at Newgrange. Interpretations of the spirals include sun symbols, signs of infinity, constellations, maps, expressions of psychotropic visions…The tomb is aligned to the solstice, so the sun symbol makes sense.

Slane Abbey. St Patrick is traditionally believed to have lit the first Easter fire on the hill in defiance of the pagan High King Lóegaire. The ruins date to the 16th century.

Traditional music at the Cobblestone in Dublin.

Dublin's River Liffey by night.

Dublin has some gorgeous Victorian buildings.

Beautiful Victorian font in Christchurch Cathedral.

Original Medieval tiles in Christchurch.

Christchurch, in the Early English Gothic Style.

The St Patrick’s Tower, ca. 1757, Dublin.

Formal garden at Irish Museum of Modern Art. The building and grounds date to the 17th century, when it was a home for retired soldiers.

Our hotel, the Leeson Inn, had original Robert Adam furniture in the lobby.

Dalkey, with view of a Martello Tower. These round defensive towers were built in the 19th century.